Our History

​The Preston Scientific Society was founded in 1876. This was during the age of Queen Victoria and represented a dawning era of scientific and technological awakening. The Great Exhibition of 1876 had provided funds for land purchase in London upon which institutions such as the Science Museum, The Imperial College of Science & Technology and The Victoria & Albert Museum were built.​Against this background "The Preston Scientific Society" flourished, spawning many offshoot sections each developing a “specialism” such as a Photographic section, Astronomical section, Records and Survey’s Committee and the Natural History section. The various sections used to meet on specific nights of the week at the Society’s own meeting rooms based in Ellesmere Chamber on Church Street until the 1970’s.​Many of the sections have devolved into separate societies over the years, and as time progressed the society adapted its name to become “The Preston Society”.

The Natural History section is the only active section still remaining, which enjoys regular meetings during the autumn, winter and spring season supplemented by a series of summer walks, coach trips and holidays.